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Newly appointed Bishop of Clogher ‘warmly welcomed’

Tuesday, 11th December 2018

The Primate of All-Ireland has “warmly welcomed” Pope Francis’ appointment of Mgr Larry Duffy as the new Bishop of Clogher.

Since 2013, Bishop-elect Duffy has been parish priest of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. He has served in various parishes of the Diocese of Clogher including Enniskillen, Castleblayney, Monaghan & Rackwallace, Ederney, Clones and Carrickmacross.

In addition, he spent four years ministering in the Diocese of Kitui in Kenya. While in Africa he led the building of a new church in Mwingi in the diocese. Bishop-elect Duffy was also a keen supporter of religious communities in their setting up of schools in the Diocese of Kitui.

The Primate of All-Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, said: “Bishop-elect Larry will bring to his role a wealth of pastoral experience having ministered in various parishes – both North and South – in the diocese. As Clogher is one of our neighbouring dioceses within the metropolitan province of Armagh, I personally look forward to working very closely with him at a local level. I have no doubt that Bishop-elect Larry will also bring his keen sense of pastoral priorities to bear on our discussions at the Bishops’ Conference, including the benefit of experience and wider perspective gained during his missionary placement in Kenya.”

Bishop-elect Duffy will take over from the Bishop-Emeritus of Clogher, Liam MacDaid, who retired on health grounds in October 2016. Archbishop Martin also paid tribute to Mgr Joseph McGuinness, “for his commitment and dedication as Diocesan Administrator” since Bishop MacDaid’s retirement.

“During this time Mgr Joe has contributed greatly to the discussions and work of the Bishops’ Conference, not least as chairman of our Council for Liturgy. May God continue to bless his ministry into the future,” he said.

The appointment of Bishop-elect Duffy has also been welcomed by his predecessors Bishop Joseph Duffy, who served as Bishop of Clogher from 1979 to 2010, and Bishop Liam MacDaid, who served the diocese from 2010 until 2016.

Bishop MacDaid praised Bishop-elect Duffy for his loyal 40 years of priestly ministry, while Bishop-Emeritus Duffy revealed that, as a former colleague of Bishop-emeritus Duffy’s, he had always been “impressed by his natural wisdom, his keen sense of spiritual priorities, his marvellous sense of humour and humility and his courage in confronting problems”.

“He works easily with others and has no illusions about the pastoral challenges facing the Irish and universal Church today,” he added.

Bishop-elect Duffy was Vicar General of the Diocese of Clogher from 2013 until the retirement of Bishop MacDaid in 2016. A former player with Magheracloone Mitchells GAA, Bishop-elect Duffy is also an avid GAA fan and a keen golfer.